Liu Shishi

Liu Shishi, birth name Liu Shishi, was born on March 10, 1987, in the Xuanwu District of Beijing, into a Hui family. Her grandfather was Liu Tianli, a performer of Xihe Drum. Her parents worked as factory workers; her stepmother retired due to health reasons, while her father went into business. In her early years, her family suggested she study Pingshu (storytelling), but Yuan Kuocheng believed that girls were not suitable for such performances and recommended she learn dance and acting. Her mother favored ballet, so she began studying ballet at the age of 6. In fourth grade, Liu Shishi was admitted to Beijing Art School (now Beijing Opera and Art Vocational College), where she entered a specialized program for ballet training. After five years of study, she was admitted at the age of 15 to the ballet department of Beijing Dance Academy with a solid foundation in ballet.

In 2004, while she was a junior at the Beijing Dance Academy, she was selected during a casting call for an acting career and began her performing arts career under the stage name "Liu Shishi." In 2006, during her studies at the Beijing Dance Academy, she appeared in director Ping Jiang Suo Jin's "Flying Flowers Like Butterflies," in a costume drama "Young Yang's Generals," and in the leading role in the romantic suspense drama "Moon Shadow and Wind Lotus." In 2007, she signed with Shanghai Tangren Film & TV Production Co., Ltd., officially entering the entertainment industry. She starred in the costume fantasy romance drama "Strange Ladies of Liaozhai."

In 2009, she became more widely known after starring as Mu Nianci in the costume martial arts drama "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." The same year, she achieved great success with the xianxia (fantasy) drama "Chinese Paladin 3," in which her portrayal of Long Kui received widespread praise.

In 2011, her leading role in the palace drama "Scarlet Heart" (also known as "Bu Bu Jing Xin") sparked a nationwide fascination with time-travel stories. The series was popular both in China and abroad, earning her multiple awards. She continued to expand her career into film, television, and stage performances. In 2012, she became the first actress voted by the audience as "Golden Eagle Goddess." In 2013, she starred alongside Wen Zhang and Jet Li in the film "The Divine Investigator," and was recognized as part of the new "Four Little Flower Queens."

Starting in 2014, Liu Shishi began exploring diversified roles, starring in several films and TV dramas, and receiving numerous industry awards. In 2015, she married actor Wu Qiqiang, and the couple held their wedding in Bali in 2016. In 2019, she portrayed single mother Bai Kaor in the TV series "If Love Like That." In 2020, her series "Golden Years" aired on CCTV and received positive reviews. Over the following years, she remained active in acting and social welfare projects. In 2021, she participated in events celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. In 2023, her costume drama "One Mind and Pass" was broadcast. In recent years, she has been involved in numerous public welfare projects, gaining recognition from the industry and the public alike, and has received honors such as the Weibo Annual Actor Award.